Chinaman in Cricket

Left-arm wrist spin — the left-handed equivalent of leg spin.

What is a Chinaman?

A left-arm wrist spinner bowls what is essentially leg spin from the other side. To a right-handed batter, the standard chinaman delivery turns from off to leg (like an off break but bowled with wrist spin). The wrong 'un for a chinaman goes the other way — away from the right-hander, like a leg break. The name's origin is disputed and considered potentially offensive in modern usage. Paul Adams, Brad Hogg, and Kuldeep Yadav are noted practitioners.

In play

Left-arm wrist spinner angles in. Batter expects off-break type turn from the angle. Chinaman turns sharply from off to leg — batter tries to sweep, ball clips the top of the stumps.

More bowling terms

• Corridor of UncertaintyThe ideal bowling line — just outside off stump where the batter is unsure whether to play or leave.
• Stock BallA bowler's standard, go-to delivery — their default weapon.
• Conventional SwingThe ball curving through the air using the contrast between the shiny and rough sides.
• Maiden OverAn over in which no runs are scored off the bat — all dot balls.
• Hat-trickA bowler taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries — one of cricket's rarest feats.
• Economy RateThe average number of runs a bowler concedes per over — the core measure of bowling containment.